Team Chronicles: What Makes a Workplace Truly Exceptional

[#1]

Ever dream of working in a team that's not just a workplace but a “true dream come true”? I'm lucky enough to say I've found that team.

When friends ask about my work, I often find myself falling back on clichés to describe my team – "great culture," "dynamic," "flexible," "opportunities for growth," and so on. It felt like I was reciting a corporate brochure, but I mean it sincerely. And no, my company isn't my family – I have a cat, kids, a husband, extended family, friends, and hobbies. But it's my job that truly fulfills me as a professional. I admire the people on my team, and many of them are my close friends.

This got me thinking – what makes this team so special? What was missing in other great companies where I've gained valuable experience and also had wonderful colleagues but never felt this way? 

Here are a few key factors that separate my current job from the rest, and I hope sharing them might help others find their own dream teams:

Ambitious yet achievable goals

Like any other organization, we have clear, measurable goals. What makes ours special is that they push us to grow without feeling out of reach. This balance keeps us engaged and excited about our work.

Our process for setting goals is thoughtful and informed. We look at data, analyze past performance, and come up with strategies as a team. This helps us set goals that are tough but possible, encouraging us to keep improving.

By celebrating our achievements along the way, we stay motivated and ready to tackle the next challenge. This approach helps us create a positive and productive work environment where everyone feels valued and inspired.

Flexibility & adaptability

At our company, we like to say, "The only constant here is change."

We are always ready to adapt to whatever comes our way. Whether it's navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic or the ongoing war (we're proudly Ukrainian), it has been proven that anything can be handled.  Always eager to try out the latest tools (ask me about any popular marketing tools; chances are I've tested or used them) and embrace new methodologies. Learning and improving constantly through generating and validating fresh ideas is a priority.

Ideas that take flight

Every employee's idea is valued. We believe that great ideas can come from anywhere within the company.

Employees are given the freedom and opportunity to present their ideas and work with the team to implement them. This open environment not only fosters collaboration and innovation but also ensures that everyone feels valued and heard.

Learning from our oops moment

Let's be real: mistakes happen (have your company paid for a tool that nobody used but you just tested? or do you ever write to a special user, "It would be a horror to see you as our customer"?) 😅

But here's the thing –  we consider new mistakes only as an excellent opportunity to learn (and an opportunity to improve internal policies and guidelines, of course). We don't fear them and encourage open communication and constructive feedback to help each other. 

Meetings that don't suck

Meeting's drawback is that they can easily turn from a quality discussion into an unproductive one, where the whole team listens to only one charismatic voice.

How to deal with this? You should always ask yourself: does everyone need to come to the meeting this time? Is it possible to hold it faster than planned? After all, shorter meetings with a small group will help focus and find quick solutions instead of long team meetings. 

Remember that the driving force behind problem-solving is discussion. Meetings that don't achieve this shouldn't be held. We also have designated "focused work" days on Thursdays when there are no scheduled meetings, allowing for uninterrupted deep work.

Employee-centric culture

At our company, creating an employee-centric culture is a top priority. Great care is taken to ensure every employee feels valued and understood.

This involves showing deep empathy and recognizing each unique need and situation - special thanks to our amazing HR team ❤️‍🔥 for their dedication. Their creativity shines during team events and in selecting thoughtful gifts.

I always admire their innovative ideas and the energy with which they implement them. For example, last week we celebrated Company Day with an auction where employees offered various items, and everyone had the chance to buy them. The proceeds went to charity. I, for one, am the happy owner of this beautiful picture, "Granny's Window," painted by our UX UI designer:By the way, it's not all rainbows and unicorns here, as you might think. Sometimes, we have to say goodbye to people; we make mistakes, have conflicts, procrastinate, and even get a bit lazy (who doesn't?). Despite that, we tackle problems and conflicts head-on and continue moving forward. Because, hey, that's what dream teams do.

These are just a few of the factors that make my team the absolute best. While they may not be the only ingredients for a dream team, I believe they play a significant role in creating a work environment that is both fulfilling and successful.

And what makes your dream team? What do you value most in your work and your company?

I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!

(and I'm always down to swap marketing war stories (and maybe some cat pics)

[Emmanuel.A]

.....